Albinism is not an incredibly rare occurrence among wildlife, but it poses significant challenges for the survival of these animals in their natural habitats. They are often rejected by their relatives and become more vulnerable to predators.
For alligators, albinism is particularly perilous due to additional factors. Many of them have misaligned jaws, and their light-colored skin is ill-suited for their environment.
Wild Florida is a notable location where dedicated staff members spare no effort in caring for these unique creatures. In May 2017, the park acquired a male-female pair of albino alligators named Blizzard and Snowflake. This marked the first breeding pair of albino alligators in Central Florida, making it one of the few places worldwide where visitors can observe these rare fauna species.
At the time of their acquisition, Blizzard, the male, was 12 years old, while his female companion, Snowflake, was 23. Blizzard is slightly larger in size, and both possess a light coloration not only in their bodies but also in their eyes, resembling drops of milk. Snowflake’s right eye is opaque white, while her left eye has two red spots.
The park has created ideal conditions for Blizzard and Snowflake, which facilitated successful reproduction without any complications. While most of their offspring are typically normal, in 2019, one of the babies inherited their parents’ albino trait. This year, the situation repeated itself, with two albino babies among the 18 newborns.
Currently, all the newborns, including the “special” albino ones, receive comprehensive care and reside in separate terrariums with comfortable climatic conditions.
It’s worth noting that white alligators can exhibit other conditions aside from albinism, such as leucism.
